After 20-months of hard work, Prince William has passed a "challenging" training course to become a fully-fledged search and rescue pilot.

The 28-year-old royal – Flight Lieutenant Wales – will attend an informal ceremony with his six fellow trainees on Friday where his unit commander will present him with a certificate and Search and Rescue badge.

Over the course of the last year and a half, William has taken part in a number of simulated rescue missions and completed 70 hours of flying in order to learn how to manoeuvre the Sea King helicopter.

The prince, based at RAF Valley on Anglesey, will now take his place as a member of a four-man rescue team, and will spend the next three years flying rescue missions around the UK.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, William said: "The course has been challenging, but I have enjoyed it immensely.

"I absolutely love flying, so it will be an honour to serve operationally with the search and rescue force, helping to provide such a vital emergency service."